Jury finds man guilty of murdering girlfriend

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. -- A Neosho, Mo., man has been found guilty of shooting his girlfriend to death.

Darrel Ray Jones, 30, was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the shotgun slaying of Janice Brunson, 41. Brunson's body was found in February 2001 inside her truck in southern Newton County.

The nine-woman, three-man jury deliberated about a half hour Friday before returning its verdict. Senior Judge David Darnold was scheduled to hear a defense motion for a new trial on Dec. 6. If the motion is not successful, Darnold will formally sentence Jones.

The murder case was moved to Lawrence County in April 2001 on a change of venue from Newton County.